China: Ai Weiwei loses appeal against tax fine

Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei has lost his appeal against a $2.4 million tax evasion fine.

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei (C) speaks to the media inside his compound in Beijing as the verdict of his court hearing is announced on July 20, 2012. Ai Weiwei lost his appeal against a multi-million-dollar tax fine on a company he founded, his lawyer said. (Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images)

The 15m yuan fine was imposed on Ai's company, Beijing Fake Cultural Development, in November – and the artist, who was held in secret detention for 81 days amid calls for anti-government protests last year, maintains it is politically motivated.

In a Twitter post following the ruling, Ai said his company would “keep appealing, until the day comes when we have nothing to lose.”

Ai had challenged the tax fine on the grounds that proper procedure had not been followed, the BBC reported.

Speaking to journalists outside his Beijing studio, Ai said:

"China keeps telling other countries they are a rule of law country... But we only hope they implement the laws they themselves drew up."